FR2632941A1 - INSTALLATION OF LOADING AND / OR UNLOADING ARTICLES IN A CONTAINER - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an installation for loading and / or unloading articles in a container comprising vertical walls and an access opening located at its upper part. It is characterized in that the gripping device comprises: - at least one substantially horizontal support 60 and disposed above the unit to be gripped, - at least one group 612 of levers 61 distributed substantially uniformly around a central axis 62 perpendicular to the plane 600 of the support 60 and through which the median axis 62 passes the plane containing each lever, - for each lever, at the level of the support, at least one means cooperating globally with one 610 of the ends 610, 611 of the lever in view of its articulation in the plane passing through the median axis which contains it, - at least one common means 63 for synchronously actuating the levers of each group 612. Application to the handling equipment industry.

Description

The invention relates to a loading installation and / or

  unloading articles into a container having vertical walls and an access opening located at its

the top part.

  - More particularly but not exclusively, the invention relates to an installation for loading and / or unloading articles and / or groups of articles to be deposited.

  in layers in the said containers.

  Precisely but also without limitation, the invention relates to an installation for handling articles and / or groups of articles of substantially cylindrical shape, of vertical axis, of high density but relatively

  such filamentary textile products in coils.

  The known installations to date for the loading and / or unloading of articles in a container comprise: - a gripping device of a catch unit consisting of at least one article, - a lifting device which allows the displacement and guiding in a substantially vertical direction of the load

  what constitutes the grip and the gripping device, -

  - a transfer device that allows the movement and guidance of the lifting device and the load at least

  between two stations, one of which is located at the foot of the container.

  The process of engaging or extracting a unit includes at least one step of bringing the underside of the pickup unit above the plane of the opening

of said container.

  This implies that both the unit and at least some elements of the aforementioned devices can during the operation

  find place above the top of the container.

  However, in many premises, the available space height is restricted for example by an upper limit

  such as a fixed structure, a ceiling, etc.

  Also, the remaining space between this limit and the top of the container can be very small compared to the useful height of the container that is to say the distance that separates its face

  lower internal plane of its opening.

2 2632941

  One result that the invention aims to achieve is an installation whose gripping and lifting devices, while ensuring their function properly, are sufficient height available above the container, which is small compared to the useful height of the container. For this purpose, the subject of the invention is an installation of the aforementioned type, characterized in that the gripping device comprises: at least one substantially horizontal support and disposed above the unit to be gripped; at least one group of levers distributed substantially uniformly about a median axis perpendicular to the plane of the support and through which axis passes the plane containing each lever, - for each lever, at the support, at least one means cooperating generally with one end of the lever in view of its articulation in a plane passing through the median axis which contains it, - at least one common means of synchronously actuating the levers of each group between a rest position in which they freely frame a predetermined volume and a position of work in which they firmly enclose the aforesaid volume. which actuating means is of such a type that, when it passes from the rest position to the working position, it induces the displacement of the free ends of the levers not only towards the median axis but also according to a

  upward trajectory towards the support.

  The invention will be well understood from the description

  Hereinafter given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the drawing which schematically represents: FIG. 1: the installation seen in profile and in partial section, FIG. 2: the installation seen from above with its environment, Figure 3: a detail view in broken section of a

part of the installation.

3- 2632941

  Referring to the drawing, there is shown an installation 1 for the purpose of loading and / or unloading a unit 2 consisting of at least one article in a container 3 comprising vertical walls 3.0 and an access opening 31. at its upper part. As it also appears, the plane 310 of the access opening 31 faces a limit 4 such as a fixed structure, a ceiling and in particular at a distance from this limit 4 which is smaller in large proportions. that the useful height of the container that is to say that the distance that separates its

  lower inner face 32 of the plane 310 of its opening.

  To determine the space available for the means of loading and unloading, it is of course necessary to deduce from this distance the height of the articles to be extracted.

or arranged in the container.

  Articles 2 are substantially cylindrical, of vertical axis 20, of high density but relatively soft such

  Filament textile products in rolls.

  They each preferably comprise an axial hole 21.

  The installation essentially comprises: - a device 6 for gripping a unit consisting of an article or a group of articles, - a lifting device 7 which makes it possible to displace the load formed by the gripping device 6 and the unit 2 on a substantially straight and vertical trajectory T, - a transfer device 8 which makes it possible to move the lifting device and the aforementioned load at least between two

  positions 9, 10, 11, 12 to lead them to the positions.

  According to the invention, the gripping device comprises: at least one substantially horizontal support and disposed above the unit to be gripped; at least one group of levers 61 distributed substantially uniformly about a central axis perpendicular to the plane 600 of the support 60 and through which median axis 62 passes the plane containing each lever, - for each lever, at the support, at least one means cooperating generally with the one 610 of the ends 610, 611 of the lever in view of its articulation in the plane passing through the median axis which contains it,

4 26'32941

  at least one common means 63 for synchronously actuating the levers of each group 612 between a rest position in which they freely surround a predetermined volume and a working position in which they firmly enclose the aforementioned volume, which actuating means is of a type such that when it passes from the rest position to the working position, it induces the displacement of the free ends 611 of the levers not only towards the median axis 62 but also according to an ascending trajectory

towards the support.

  Provided that the rest and working positions of the levers are correctly determined, this gripping device thus makes it possible to grip the articles effectively.

substantially cylindrical and soft.

  Those skilled in the art are able to determine these positions as a function of the volume to be clamped and the properties of and / or

  materials that make up the articles.

  In a preferred embodiment: the actuating means 63 of each group of levers consists mainly of: a plate 630 generally centered on the central axis 62 of the group 612 of levers 61 and which extends substantially in parallel above the plane 600 of the support, a drive member 631 controlling the displacement in translation of said plate along an axis orthogonal to the plane 600 of the support member 60, which member is approximately centered on the central axis 62 of the group 612 of levers and, for each lever 61, a means 632 for articulating its upper end 610 on the plate 630 and in a plane containing the central axis of the group 612 and a link 633 articulated by the one of its ends at a point 613 of the lever situated between its upper end 610 and its free end 611 and, for the other end of this link, around hinge means 6331, 6332 carried for this purpose at a point 601 of the su port 60 of the gripping device and this in a plane

  substantially parallel to that of articulation of the lever.

  The driving member 631 is for example constituted by a jack

flexible air.

2632941

  According to the invention, on the one hand, the levers of each group 612 each carry a cylindrical mandrel 614 of complementary section to the axial hole 21 of an article 2 and on the other hand these levers 61 are spaced apart from the median axis - 62 of the group so that in their rest position they are able to simultaneously engage each in the hole - axial of one of the

items of a catch unit.

  The cylindrical mandrels 614 preferably comprise

  shapes such grooves favor anchoring in articles.

  These latter provisions particularly strengthen

  the effectiveness of the gripping device.

  In such a situation, the levers of each group allow indifferently the gripping of a group of articles by exploiting their axial hole or one or more items whose volume falls between these levers at least in

their position of rest.

  According to the invention, the gripping device 6 comprises a cylinder 64 centered on the median axis of each group 612 of levers 61 and this cylinder is also provided at its periphery with shapes 640 to reinforce; taking

  articles 2 supported on this cylinder 64 by means of the levers 61.

  With regard to the lifting device 7, according to the invention, it mainly comprises a rigid element 70 which: - on the one hand, is substantially horizontal and supported by the transport device 8 and, on the other hand, to connect this rigid element 70 to the support 60 integrated in the gripping device, flexible strips 71 which are arranged according to the faces of a trunk of notional pyramid 72 of axis normal to said elements, at a small base 720 of which truncated pyramid, the strips are connected by anchoring members 73 to the support 60 of the gripping means and the large base 721 of which truncated pyramid, the strips are wound on rollers 74 carried by the rigid element 70, - 35 these rollers being as for them connected to a motor means 75 of

  control in synchronism of their rotation.

6 2632941

  The anchoring members 73 are carried by the support 60 integrated in the gripping device by means of adjusting the length of the strip stretched between its roll and

its anchor.

  The load is thus displaced on a substantially vertical rectilinear trajectory without oscillation or in a

  vertical plane or in a horizontal plane.

  This type of lifting device guarantees a perfect stability of the load despite its displacement by the means

transfer 8.

  In addition, this lifting device has the advantage of having a very small overall height compared to the race in

height it allows.

  With regard to the transfer device 8, according to the invention, it consists essentially of a column 80 of substantially vertical axis 800, anchored by its base 801 to a stable support 81 such as the ground and which carries at its summit 802 by means 82 of articulation and indexing about an axis 820 coincides with that 800 of the column, an arm 83 which extends in particular in a plane which may be close to the upper limit 4 of the room and carries at its free end 830 the lifting device 7 and this through a second means 84 of articulation and indexing about an axis 840

  globally parallel to that 800 of the column.

  This last articulation means makes it possible to give a suitable orientation to the device as a function of the position at

the height of which it is.

  In a simplified embodiment, the arm of the

  transfer device consists of a simple beam.

  Preferably, according to the invention, the arm 83 of the transfer device 8 consists of at least two parts 831, 832 hinged together about an axis 850 substantially parallel to that 820 of articulation of the arm-83 on the column and this through at least one means 85 of articulation and indexing along the axis defined 850 Advantageously, the various means of articulation and indexing 82, 84, 85 which have just been mentioned c that is to say those interposed between the arm 83 and the column 80, between the arm 83 and the lifting device 7, between the parts 831, 832 constituting the arm, are slaved independently of each other. Whether or not they are slaved independently of each other, the means 82, 84, 85 evoked will allow to describe at the free end 830 of the arm 83 a more or less complex trajectory and in any case adaptable to that required for the transfer of the gripping device to different stations 9,

, 11, 12. -

  According to the invention, the periphery 311 of the opening 31 of each container 3 and the support 60 of the gripping device 6 carry complementary means 35, anchoring to allow the gripping of the container and each of said means of anchoring 65 is associated with a means 650

  alternately commanding his retraction and his activation.

  The installation which has just been described thus allows at least: to enter articles or groups of articles located in a first station 9, to transfer these articles into a container 2 situated in a second station 10; transfer the container for example after its

  filling in a third post 11.

  Also the installation makes it possible to take in a fourth station 12 an empty container to bring it to station 10, on

performs the filling.

8 2632941

Claims (9)

  1. Installation (1) for loading and / or unloading a unit. gripping device consisting of at least one article (2) in a container (3) comprising vertical walls (30) and an access opening (31) at its upper part, the plane (310) of the opening of access (31) being in particular opposite a limit (4) such as a fixed structure, a ceiling, etc ... and at a distance from this limit (4) lower in large proportions to the useful height of the container, that is to say at the distance separating its lower inner face (32) from the plane (310) of its opening, this installation further comprising: - a gripping device of a gripping unit consisting of at least one article, - a lifting device which allows movement and guidance in a substantially vertical direction of the load constituted by the set limit and the gripping device, - a transfer device which allows the lifting device to be moved and guided and load at least   between two stations, one of which is directly above the container.   said installation being CHARACTERIZED in that the gripping device comprises - at least one substantially horizontal support (60) and disposed above the unit to be gripped, - at least one group (612) of levers (61) distributed substantially uniformly around a median axis (62) perpendicular to the plane (600) of the support (60) and through which median axis (62) passes the plane containing each lever, - for each lever, at the support, at least one cooperating means globally with one (610) of. ends (610, 611) of the lever for its articulation in the plane passing through the median axis which contains it, - at least one common means (63) for synchronously actuating the levers of each group (612) between a rest position in which they freely frame a predetermined volume and a working position in which they firmly enclose the aforesaid volume, which actuating means is of a type such that, when it passes from the 9 2632941   rest position at the working position, it induces the displacement of the free ends (611) of the levers not only towards the central axis (62) but also according to a   upward trajectory towards the support. -   2. Installation according to claim 1 characterized in that the lifting device (7) mainly comprises a rigid element (70) which:   - On the one hand, is substantially horizontal and supported by the transport device (8) and - On the other hand, to connect this rigid element (70) to the support (60) integrated in the gripping device, flexible bands ( 71) which are arranged according to the faces of a trunk of imaginary pyramid (72) of axis normal to said elements, to the small base (720) of which truncated pyramid, the strips are connected by anchoring members (73). ) to the support (60) of the gripping means and to the large base (721) of which pyramid trunk, the strips are wound on rollers (74) carried by the rigid element (70), these rolls being connected to a driving means (75) synchronously controlling their rotation.   3. In-stallation according to claim I or 2 characterized in that the transfer device (8) consists essentially of a column (80) of substantially vertical axis (800), anchored by its base (801) to a stable support (81) such as the ground and which carries at its summit (802) by means (82) of articulation and indexing about an axis (820) coinciding with that (800) of the column, an arm (83) which extends in particular in a plane which may be close to the upper limit (4) of the room and carries at its free end (830) the lifting device (7) and this through second means (84) for articulation and indexing about an axis (840)   globally parallel to that (800) of the column.   4. Installation according to claim 1 characterized in that the actuating means (63) of each group of levers consists mainly of: - a plate (630) generally centered on the central axis   (62) of the group (612) of levers (61) and which extends substantially   parallel to the top of the plane (600) of the support, 2632941   a driving member (631) controlling the displacement in translation of this plate along an axis orthogonal to the plane (600) of the support member (60), which member is approximately centered on the central axis (62) of the group (612) of levers and, - for each lever (61), a means (632) for articulation of its upper end (610) on the plate (630) and in a plane containing the central axis of the group (612) and a link (633) articulated by one of its ends at a point (613) of the lever located between its upper end (610) and its free end (611) and, for the other end of this link, around hinge means (6331, 6332) carried for this purpose at a point (601) of the support (60) of the gripping device and in a plane substantially parallel to that articulation of the lever.   5. Installation according to any one of the claims   1 to 4 for handling articles comprising an axial hole (21) characterized in that, on the one hand, the levers of each group (612) each carry a cylindrical mandrel (614) of complementary section to the axial hole (21) of an article (2) and secondly, these levers (61) are spaced from the median axis (62) of the group so that in their rest position they are able to engage simultaneously each in the hole   axial of one of the articles of a gripping unit.   6. Installation according to any one of the claims   1 to 5 characterized in that the gripping device (6) comprises a cylinder (64) centered on the median axis of each group (612) of levers (61) and this cylinder is provided at its periphery with shapes (640) in order to reinforce the hold of the articles (2) supported on this cylinder (64) by means of the levers (61). 7. Installation according to claim 3 characterized in that the arm (83) of the transfer device (8) consists of at least two parts (831, 832) hinged together about an axis (850) substantially parallel to that (820) articulation of the arm (83) on the column (80) and this through at least one means (85) of articulation and indexing along the defined axis (850).   8. Installation according to any one of the claims   3 to 7 characterized in that the various means of articulation and indexing (82, 84, 85), ie those interposed between the arm (83) and the column (80), between the parts (831, 832) between the arm (83) and the lifting device (7) are independently controlled by each other.   9. Installation according to any one of the claims   1 to 8 characterized in that the periphery (311) of the opening (31) of each container (3) and the support (60) of the gripping device (6) carry complementary means (35, 65) for anchoring in order to allow the gripping of the container and each of said anchoring means (65) is associated with means (650) alternately controlling its retraction and its activation.